Slot car racing
Racing with model cars
Slot racing is racing with model cars on a plastic or wooden track. An electrical engine powers the cars. The motor is connected to a guide that is positioned under the chassis of the model. To the guide are copper braids connected and is positioned in a slot in the middle of parallel rails. The slot car gets speed if the driver gives power to the rails by means of a hand held controller.
Hand held controller
The hand held controller contains a variable resistor. A spring-loaded trigger varies the amount op power supplied to the car. By variation of the power the car goes faster or slower. The voltage that is used by Ninco is 14 volts dc.
The skill is to drive
The slot car comes out of the slot if the driver gives too much power. The driver puts the car back in the slot, but his competitor is able to continue. The skill is to drive as fast as possible without falling out of the slot. The driving ability comes with practicing. Concentration and the ability to react quickly make the better driver.
Electronic counter counts the laps
The winner is the driver who completes most laps. Slot car races are over fixed length of time or number of laps. Nowadays, an electronic counter counts the laps. In the old days laps were counted by a mechanical lapcounter.
Buy a track set
The best way to start with slot car racing is to buy a track set. The major 1/32 manufactures are Ninco, Scalextric, SCX and Carrera. Your local slot car dealer is able to assist you in making your choice.
Jan Willem van Capelleveen
More information
Beginners Class
Slot car preparation
Collecting slot cars
Slot racing at home
